Brain Gut 8: Their Trip Down the Rabbit Hole

Brain Gut 8: Their Trip Down the Rabbit Hole

2. Accept that your epigenome is a loaded gun, and your lifestyle is the trigger. Your lifestyle can’t change you. It reveals who you really are.

3. Is there an important difference between giving up on somethings and letting go to get to Optimal?

4. You are not your brain. Most of your thoughts and beliefs were given to you by society.

5. When we don’t know who we are, we are prone to be who somebody else wants us to be. We can change that.

Today we have a guest blog post from MJ Friedman, one of two of our community members who decided to come down south and get a first hand view of what Optimal is really all about. The other person is Danielle Thatcher. The following blog are MJ’s words about her 24 hours with me while I was on vacation. I needed a break and decided to take time off and not go to Boston to be at AHS 2012. It turns out work seems to follow me no matter where I go now.

Here is Mrs. Friedman’s day………..

“Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.”

Jack’s Rabbit Foot-like Vibrams 🙂

Just like Alice, my curiosity (like many of yours) starting with us all working together to solve the Factor X puzzle, has been burning! While I’ve made a ton of changes in six months, I have not completely jumped in where supplements are concerned, and so now the time had come to go “all in” to the rabbit hole. After a couple of invitations from Dr. Kruse to come down to Florida, I felt like the universe was trying to tell me something. I decided for once to consider my own needs and hopped on a plane to meet Dr. Kruse. Like Alice, I found that the rabbit hole was indeed rather large and remarkable, and the experience of meeting Dr. Kruse was interesting and definitely unforgettable. He is a gentleman, driven, self-assured and also very human. He is extremely passionate about what he knows, and genuinely wants to help people who want to help themselves. Perhaps the most important realization I gained from this experience is that I am the only one who can take responsibility for my wellness, and more importantly that it’s much more urgent than I’ve considered.

As a mother, and care taker of all the people in my life, I must not neglect myself. My approach to this point has been first to completely change my diet and then make other changes as I understand things more and more, but Dr. Kruse instead implored me to take on my wellness at a much more urgent pace. I feel like I’ve made so many changes in the last six months, but see now that there is so much more I need to do, and that I need to move on it. Thankfully, I thrive on challenges. My greatest challenge will be figuring out how to finance all the testing and potentially tell my children no to some things they are accustomed to having, or get a job to cover these expenses – by the way, LoL, does anyone have a perfect, stress free (have to watch that Cortisol), high paying job for me?

I asked Dannielle, a new friend also from the forum, who happens to live in Florida to meet me there, and the two of us had a most fun and interesting time together. We had so much in common, especially in that neither of us has made our own heath a priority over the needs and wants of our families. In reflecting on our time there, our coming together for this experience was no accident. I think this is a common theme for many women where everyone else’s needs come first. Dr. Kruse tells us that in his experience with this type of change, men think differently, and are more action oriented, where women have trouble prioritizing themselves.

One great thing that I found in meeting Dannielle and in a similar way in meeting some other people from our forum (Claudia and Alex and yes, one day Kristin, who lives just blocks from me, and we’ve yet to meet!!!), is that it is so wonderful to surround yourself with people who have similar goals and support you in your thinking! I hope to meet many more of you in the future, so we can help and support each other, as there is nothing more motivating than meeting people face to face to discuss all of this. We hope to turn this into an annual event for us all to be able to do this, or something similar!

Dannielle Being Naughty!

I was not quite sure what to expect from showing Dr. Kruse my labs. My own doctor was very happy with all of my results, and just wanted me to up my vitamin D3 to 3,000 IUs. I was hoping for Dr. Kruse to corroborate that and tell me I was completely healthy. I found out that I am not in bad shape, but that I am normal in some categories to low normal in some others, which is not at all optimal. The scary part was that if I don’t make more drastic changes now that I might be setting myself up for things like breast cancer due to my low levels of vitamin D and need for other important supplementation. Without these my immunities are lowered. Dr. Kruse thinks I should consider that I up my vitamin D3 to 20,000 IUs a day for a short period of time until my levels come up and because I live in NY and will not be able to make any from sun exposure after September 15th. He wants me to have my levels of D retested in September. We discussed how in general, I did not want to indiscriminately just load up on vitamins and supplements that might throw me out of balance in some other way, plus taking supplements makes me gag! I only want to have to take what I really need, but find the whole supplement scene confusing. With that thought, Dr. Kruse had a flash of inspiration.

Truth: you can’t hide that from your labs!!!

Dr. Kruse is very spontaneous and flexible, which gels perfectly with how I am in life, and Dannielle as well. So when he suggested that we go on what turned out to be an important field trip to Life Extension to help us get the proper supplements specific to our individual needs, we were all in. What a trip! Unfortunately I did not have time to get blood drawn which Dr. Kruse was hoping to help me set up while there because some of the testing in NY State is a pain under the current laws, but shopping with our own personal encyclopedia of supplements that is the brain inside Dr. Kruse’s head, was awesome nonetheless!

Here we are in front of the all-important hormone sign!

One of the things Dr. Kruse highly recommended for me was that I look into bioidentical homone replacement, as a proactive measure for dealing with perimenopause, which, like all women, I would eventually and inevitably face. While I am currently not experiencing any symptoms or changes, the key here is prevention of potential weight gain and related health implications to the extra weight that comes with menopause through proactive intervention before it occurs. In addition Dr. Kruse explained that menopause has the same biologic effects in the brain as diabetes does. How you ask? It seems that there is a loss of dopamine in the brain. In menopause the loss is not as severe in intensity or duration as it is in T2D but it explains many of the symptoms post menopausal women face. This is why he suggests we consider talking to our PCP’s about Cycloset for peri-menopause and menopause as well as for the treatment of Diabetes. Metformin also is a drug that can help women as the age too even when they do not have diabetes. He also told us about how it is used for gut health and how it is a great anti aging drug used in a specific anti aging Rx. Dr. Kruse shared with me a article about this very issue when we visited the Life Extension store.

Here are the supplements I agreed to start with in mega doses. It was not cheap, but eventually Dr. Kruse promises that when it’s all under control and my diet is even more pristine (apparently I’m still having too many carbs), I won’t need all these supplements, if any at all, he no longer takes them based on his labs!

One of the nicest things to see is that Dr. Kruse is for real in his willingness to help people. He spent a lot of time talking to this couple who just happened to be in Life Extension shopping for supplements. The husband is a newly diagnosed Diabetic and they talked a lot with him about diabetes and its prevention, and in the end he implored them to put back all the supplements they were indiscriminately buying and get tested. I don’t even think the shop owner minded because he understood all about testing, and we’re sure this couple will be back for the right supplements later on.

The shop owner was very interested in discussing all of Dr. Kruse’s ideas. They even went online to his website.

On Diabetes: Dr. Kruse starts out by asking this couple, “What do you and a polar bear have in common?”

The couple was so grateful, and Dannielle and I both got a big kick out of watching this scene unfold! We also have a great appreciation for Dr. Kruse’s lovely wife Sandy, as we can see that there is probably no place that he can go to and not talk about his passion for wellness! We imagine she does a lot of standing around; we are dubbing her Saint Sandy. We also thank her for letting us take her husband away from a day of their vacation together!

The shop owner was very interested in discussing all of Dr. Kruse’s ideas. They even went online to his site.

Labs tell all, and so I was busted by my labs on the fact that I don’t sleep enough, though I’m doing so much better than I used to. I used to love to stay up sometimes almost all night long and just think and enjoy the alone time. I have been doing much better, but I admit I can improve on that. Dr. Kruse opened my eyes to the idea that even more than what I eat, how much sleep I get is vital to my health. He explained to me that 45{a7b724a0454d92c70890dedf5ec22a026af4df067c7b55aa6009b4d34d5da3c6} of our brain is directly wired to light circuits while only 10{a7b724a0454d92c70890dedf5ec22a026af4df067c7b55aa6009b4d34d5da3c6} are wired to the hypothalamic leptin receptors. The quality of the rest of my life might depend on this information…if I want my brain to be healthy I have to make sleep my top priority. Dr. Kruse mentioned to us that one of us had brain damage – as that is what short term memory loss equates to! He used that term to make a greater point to us both. What we consider normal modern aging may not be so normal after all. I laughed a ton with Dannielle over that, due to the no holds barred delivery of that information, but at the same time we are both taking heed! I for one, can never find my keys!

In addition to all that, I discussed with him the fact that though I have plenty of education as a certified teacher, his blog can be difficult to absorb. I learned it’s by design, and that only the people dedicated to their health will ultimately stay with it, as Dr. Kruse promotes proactivity. We had a great debate on this topic and though our approach to education may differ; I can respect his point of view, and in actuality found him to be a caring and patient teacher. He has a no nonsense philosophy, which focuses on results, and where health is concerned I agree that’s a very good thing. The point is it’s there for us all and in our reach; we just have to want to put ourselves first, and do the work, and follow through on our own specialized routines. Dr. Kruse enjoys helping people who embrace positive change. He pointed us both to some reading on hormones, and it’s apparent that I have some work to do to understand this all more deeply. I gladly accept this challenge and now I know what I’ll be reading on the beaches of Montauk Point next week on my vacation!

When we passed this sign on our way to the restaurant, we knew we were in the right place!

For dinner Dr. Kruse took us to Downtown Disney, where we had a wonderful seafood experience.

I love Downtown Disney, we also saw Woody and Buzz at the Lego Place on our way. Speaking of Woody, there was no room for embarrassment in a conversation with Dr. Kruse, we frankly discussed many topics. Dr. Kruse taught us something very important about the health of our husbands, and one topic concerning men that came up was on premature ejaculation and how it could indicate a heart condition, because the absence of blood flow originates in the heart. So couples, if any of you have this issue it is really important to get that checked by a cardiologist! In addition he talked about the importance of oxytocin and how it is the ultimate antioxidant for the brain. So we were given a “thought prescription” to follow daily, look at the sun upon rising, consider having an orgasm to lowering our cortisol by increasing oxytocin, and eat a big ass breakfast as out lined in the Leptin Rx. All are designed to limit inflammation in our brain. Dr. Kruse pointed out a book that even had the information about orgasm as we both bought the book. We wanted to know how much our husbands had paid him to say that! We all agreed though that sex is a part of a healthy lifestyle.

The interesting thing about a seafood dinner of shellfish is that you have to work for your food, and that actually makes for more of an experience. Dannielle and I had never had oysters before, so we challenged ourselves to try one. OK, I took the only small one, yes, I’m a wimp, and Dannielle rocks!

We actually videotaped the moment, but that I will have to burn because it has the makings of a blackmail tape hahaha so my reaction to Dr. Kruse when he asked how we liked it, besides a really funny expression was, “NO, but YEAH, I did it!” I am excited to have changed my thinking on this as in “suck it up”, if I can eat a slime ball like that, I can do almost anything! Dannielle, when asked how it tasted replied, “it was like a large bogger in my mouth!” We laughed a lot about that among other things! Oysters we learned are at the top of the list for being the most nutrient dense and best for the health of our brains. We also ate seaweed
which kind of tasted like beans to me, the rest was not bad at all! In fact, I could eat the rest any day!

The rabbit hole is large and dark, but I am embracing my discomfort, and jumping in with both feet! I believe Dannielle is definitely up for this as well, especially after the oysters! I’m excited to have Dr. Kruse as my flashlight as I journey further down this hole, but this time I go with a bit more urgency! Thank you Dr. Kruse.

The moral here for you all: A modern life destroys the unconscious mind…….and this destroys our ability to thin slice our world. It is time to embrace Darwinian medicine to heal what really ails us as a species. Thank you MJ for writing this piece for our community to share. Jack Kruse

254 Comments

Great personal narrative. Stories like these I think can give a morale boost to all of us. Jack, I do hope we can meet one day as well.

@Jack – speaking of wormholes. I was wondering if you are familiar with Terence McKenna and his “stoned ape” evolutionary hypothesis. I don’t want to get too far down this road, but you are a neurosurgeon, so I thought you might have some insights.

On that same topic, I am wondering about the pineal gland. I feel like you strongly emphasize the HPA axis, but I am wondering about your views on pineal health, beyond just the melatonin release issue. And is it true that Fluoride can calcify the gland? And if so, do you know of repair protocols?

Great personal narrative. Stories like these I think can give a morale boost to all of us. Jack, I do hope we can meet one day as well.

@Jack – speaking of wormholes. I was wondering if you are familiar with Terence McKenna and his “stoned ape” evolutionary hypothesis. I don’t want to get too far down this road, but you are a neurosurgeon, so I thought you might have some insights.

On that same topic, I am wondering about the pineal gland. I feel like you strongly emphasize the HPA axis, but I am wondering about your views on pineal health, beyond just the melatonin release issue. And is it true that Fluoride can calcify the gland? And if so, do you know of repair protocols?

@ TheKid The Pineal is behind the Cortisol/DHEA/melatonin HPA axis. I do not think I have done an educational consult yet that has not involved this axis. It is destroyed in modern humuns most commonly because of artificial light. And that is the big topic coming next in Brain Gut 9

@ TheKid The Pineal is behind the Cortisol/DHEA/melatonin HPA axis. I do not think I have done an educational consult yet that has not involved this axis. It is destroyed in modern humuns most commonly because of artificial light. And that is the big topic coming next in Brain Gut 9

Great guest blog! MJ really brings home how much an educational consult can help. Its amazing what happens when you break away from neolithic thought, and embrace the circadian and seasonal cycles. suddenly you have children who always had to be woken up, waking up by themselves at 530-6 every day! They ask for squid, cuttlefish, oysters, mussels and clams.

I’ve been on cycloset for 2weeks and I’ve already started seeing changes in my circadian cycles… 5am wakeup with out an alarm is amazing! FBG is still all over the map, and I’m convinced that metaformin is going to be a required addition for me.

the road to health requires a willingness to leave your comfort zone and leave the “Jonses” behind.

Restrictions come in all forms – the mind is the most dangerous restriction of all!

Great guest blog! MJ really brings home how much an educational consult can help. Its amazing what happens when you break away from neolithic thought, and embrace the circadian and seasonal cycles. suddenly you have children who always had to be woken up, waking up by themselves at 530-6 every day! They ask for squid, cuttlefish, oysters, mussels and clams.

I’ve been on cycloset for 2weeks and I’ve already started seeing changes in my circadian cycles… 5am wakeup with out an alarm is amazing! FBG is still all over the map, and I’m convinced that metaformin is going to be a required addition for me.

the road to health requires a willingness to leave your comfort zone and leave the “Jonses” behind.

Restrictions come in all forms – the mind is the most dangerous restriction of all!

@Zorica It has been irrelevent to me before it began. Problem is it is all the paleo community thinks about. Dr. Kuipers talk shoul;d make everyone realize that what is HOMO’s solution is not the Paleo Solution. Terry Wahl’s backed that up too at AHS 2012. The rest of the community had that fast zip past them.

@Zorica It has been irrelevent to me before it began. Problem is it is all the paleo community thinks about. Dr. Kuipers talk shoul;d make everyone realize that what is HOMO’s solution is not the Paleo Solution. Terry Wahl’s backed that up too at AHS 2012. The rest of the community had that fast zip past them.

great: ‘Metformin also is a drug that can help women as the age too even when they do not have diabetes. He also told us about how it is used for gut health and how it is a great anti aging drug used in a specific anti aging Rx.” i would add that metformin retards every cancer for which they have looked for its action on. Just an incredible benign, beneficial pharmaceutical! http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/31/news/la-heb-metformin-cancer-20120331

great: ‘Metformin also is a drug that can help women as the age too even when they do not have diabetes. He also told us about how it is used for gut health and how it is a great anti aging drug used in a specific anti aging Rx.” i would add that metformin retards every cancer for which they have looked for its action on. Just an incredible benign, beneficial pharmaceutical! http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/31/news/la-heb-metformin-cancer-20120331

@Gretchen, thanks, it was very motivating and I, as of now, am a supplement fiend LoL, who would have thought this possible? I still don’t enjoy taking them, but I understand why I must and that makes all the difference. Dr. Kruse was very patient in explaining why we needed each specific one, and knowledge is power. Gretchen, it’s amazing what you have been able to accomplish with your little ones!! It’s also awesome to hear what cycloset is doing for you. I could not agree more with leaving the “Jonses” behind, this is something I’ve managed to do in other areas of my life, like in how I think and feel about the accumulation of material things, now to see you equate that concept to health, that’s a great thought!

@Gretchen, thanks, it was very motivating and I, as of now, am a supplement fiend LoL, who would have thought this possible? I still don’t enjoy taking them, but I understand why I must and that makes all the difference. Dr. Kruse was very patient in explaining why we needed each specific one, and knowledge is power. Gretchen, it’s amazing what you have been able to accomplish with your little ones!! It’s also awesome to hear what cycloset is doing for you. I could not agree more with leaving the “Jonses” behind, this is something I’ve managed to do in other areas of my life, like in how I think and feel about the accumulation of material things, now to see you equate that concept to health, that’s a great thought!

The fact that you are doing what you’re doing and you don’t have any disease is what is inspiring. I would never have done what I’m doing if I hadn’t become ill. You and your family will reap the rewards for the rest of your probably long and healthy lives. This is what Dr.K wants to see happen to medicine. Test and prevent!

The fact that you are doing what you’re doing and you don’t have any disease is what is inspiring. I would never have done what I’m doing if I hadn’t become ill. You and your family will reap the rewards for the rest of your probably long and healthy lives. This is what Dr.K wants to see happen to medicine. Test and prevent!

@Dali Dula, thanks for saying that. I feel lucky to have found this. When I told my doctor that I was there for wellness and prevention, I wish I’d had a camera to show you the expression on her face…she was happy, but surprised I think, most people don’t seek this out until they are ill. I just stumbled on this, and probably would have been in the same boat as you in a few years…diabetes is one thing I hope to prevent, it’s in my family history.

@Dali Dula, thanks for saying that. I feel lucky to have found this. When I told my doctor that I was there for wellness and prevention, I wish I’d had a camera to show you the expression on her face…she was happy, but surprised I think, most people don’t seek this out until they are ill. I just stumbled on this, and probably would have been in the same boat as you in a few years…diabetes is one thing I hope to prevent, it’s in my family history.

I loved this. Thank you. Starting over a year ago it hit me how my thoughts are not my thoughts and my beliefs are not my beliefs. I also realized I was free to let them go and create ones that serve me. It hasn’t been easy because my brain is easily distractable but following epi paleo lifestyle is a brain fitness program. It is becoming easier to connect the dots where before I had lost the ability to even find the dots. This has made my process slow going because I am ….LOOK! THERE’S A SQUIRREL!….still distractable but it is improving. Again I am inspired to refine and redirect my circadian rhythms to optimal. Thanks!

I loved this. Thank you. Starting over a year ago it hit me how my thoughts are not my thoughts and my beliefs are not my beliefs. I also realized I was free to let them go and create ones that serve me. It hasn’t been easy because my brain is easily distractable but following epi paleo lifestyle is a brain fitness program. It is becoming easier to connect the dots where before I had lost the ability to even find the dots. This has made my process slow going because I am ….LOOK! THERE’S A SQUIRREL!….still distractable but it is improving. Again I am inspired to refine and redirect my circadian rhythms to optimal. Thanks!

@MJ I just did a consult with a nice lady named S.L. who I also think would be a rockstar guest blogger. What she has done in 6 months is nothing short of amazing. She is the female version of Jack Kruse.

@MJ I just did a consult with a nice lady named S.L. who I also think would be a rockstar guest blogger. What she has done in 6 months is nothing short of amazing. She is the female version of Jack Kruse.

@Glamazon thanks, YES dig our your eye shades and get more sleep lol, and I can totally relate to being easily distracted, and what you say about how your thoughts are not your thoughts and how your beliefs are not your beliefs hits home…our perceptions are based on our perspective, and often in concert with those around us. We need to change our perspectives, surround ourselves with like minded people, broaden our views, and then give ourselves permission to change! In the beginning I was a little embarrassed to tell people that I can’t eat the food they made for me…food is love to so many and you don’t want to hurt their feelings, and now what we are doing here is so much more – cold therapy, yellow glasses, early to bed, limited alcohol – just one glass of red wine, etc., it just doesn’t fit society’s idea of fun! I’m over that, it’s ok for me to be the best I can be, and not worry that I may not fit in, or that I will maybe hurt someone’s feelings over their food. I’m out of the epi-paleo closet LoL, and I feel great about it, and once I’ve explained it to people in my life, though they may not embrace it themselves (yet) they do understand, and if they don’t that’s ok too…

@Glamazon thanks, YES dig our your eye shades and get more sleep lol, and I can totally relate to being easily distracted, and what you say about how your thoughts are not your thoughts and how your beliefs are not your beliefs hits home…our perceptions are based on our perspective, and often in concert with those around us. We need to change our perspectives, surround ourselves with like minded people, broaden our views, and then give ourselves permission to change! In the beginning I was a little embarrassed to tell people that I can’t eat the food they made for me…food is love to so many and you don’t want to hurt their feelings, and now what we are doing here is so much more – cold therapy, yellow glasses, early to bed, limited alcohol – just one glass of red wine, etc., it just doesn’t fit society’s idea of fun! I’m over that, it’s ok for me to be the best I can be, and not worry that I may not fit in, or that I will maybe hurt someone’s feelings over their food. I’m out of the epi-paleo closet LoL, and I feel great about it, and once I’ve explained it to people in my life, though they may not embrace it themselves (yet) they do understand, and if they don’t that’s ok too…

MJ wrote a wonderful piece here about our adventures with Dr. Kruse. It truly was an experience of a life time. I would encourage everyone…to have the opportunity to speak and consult with him. He is a remarkable man and Dr. He can hone in on things in people, like I have never seen before. It’s almost scary… but in such a great way. I will have more about my experience with him coming your way very soon.

MJ wrote a wonderful piece here about our adventures with Dr. Kruse. It truly was an experience of a life time. I would encourage everyone…to have the opportunity to speak and consult with him. He is a remarkable man and Dr. He can hone in on things in people, like I have never seen before. It’s almost scary… but in such a great way. I will have more about my experience with him coming your way very soon.

@ MJ and Danielle I am like the medical version of Sharon Stone in Sliver my wife says……..a medical voyeur of labs. LOL I loved the the epi paleo pic. you need to send me that file…….I need to use it again

@ MJ and Danielle I am like the medical version of Sharon Stone in Sliver my wife says……..a medical voyeur of labs. LOL I loved the the epi paleo pic. you need to send me that file…….I need to use it again

HI Dr. Kruse, you talked to the ladies about premature ejaculation could indicate a heart condition. If a guy has really low DHEA, Pregnenolone and Testosterone could those also be a cause of premature ejaculation?

@Kami…….that is a topic for a consult. We really cant talk about it here but I will tell you it has massive implications as MJ and Danielle found out with me live when we were eating crustaceans. Funniest part of the story is that a 45 yr oldish women was next to us ease dropping on this conversion when we were talking about “wood”, oxytocin. orgasms and heart disease. It was very Harry met Sallyish…….

HI Dr. Kruse, you talked to the ladies about premature ejaculation could indicate a heart condition. If a guy has really low DHEA, Pregnenolone and Testosterone could those also be a cause of premature ejaculation?

@Kami…….that is a topic for a consult. We really cant talk about it here but I will tell you it has massive implications as MJ and Danielle found out with me live when we were eating crustaceans. Funniest part of the story is that a 45 yr oldish women was next to us ease dropping on this conversion when we were talking about “wood”, oxytocin. orgasms and heart disease. It was very Harry met Sallyish…….

Great stuff! Nothing like some personal journeys shared to inspire and educate us. It really makes all this great pathway information so real and accessible to us non-savant-like, non-pychocotic, non-maniacal, explorers of the Human Condition.

Great stuff! Nothing like some personal journeys shared to inspire and educate us. It really makes all this great pathway information so real and accessible to us non-savant-like, non-pychocotic, non-maniacal, explorers of the Human Condition.

Love it! I want to see the movie with Meryl Streep, Hope Springs Eternal.

VERY curious about the use of cycloset and/or Meformin since I am 50 (and liked MJ, no symptoms I’m aware of with perimenopause), so surely I should be on BHRT now. Plus, diabetes is on my mother’s side of the family. And my stupid feet still have the numbness issue (about 10 months now), and likely due to my M.S. of 22 years.

@LinD I laughed at Paleofx when ” a prominent doc” got up and said everyone knows that circadian biology has no affect on leptin. Here I was talking to masses of people about how I use metformin and cycloset to manage LR and we have a Leptin guru doc who wrote a book not know that cycloset was FDA approved for T2D in 2009!!!! Even the damn govt knew that LR is tied to circadian cycles of the cortisol DHEA melatonin axis.

Love it! I want to see the movie with Meryl Streep, Hope Springs Eternal.

VERY curious about the use of cycloset and/or Meformin since I am 50 (and liked MJ, no symptoms I’m aware of with perimenopause), so surely I should be on BHRT now. Plus, diabetes is on my mother’s side of the family. And my stupid feet still have the numbness issue (about 10 months now), and likely due to my M.S. of 22 years.

@LinD I laughed at Paleofx when ” a prominent doc” got up and said everyone knows that circadian biology has no affect on leptin. Here I was talking to masses of people about how I use metformin and cycloset to manage LR and we have a Leptin guru doc who wrote a book not know that cycloset was FDA approved for T2D in 2009!!!! Even the damn govt knew that LR is tied to circadian cycles of the cortisol DHEA melatonin axis.

Interesting you should mention Metformin. I have a semi-enlightened, cooperative doc who prescribed it for me. I wanted to try it to increase insulin sensitivity and maybe lose a very stubborn 20 lbs. Tried it for about 3 weeks last fall. It definitely lowered my appetite. (I think it does this by inducing nausea. If you eat only meat, fish, and fat, the nausea is minimized, but still present.) It had the greatest effect on my BG when I took over 2100mg/day.

I stopped Metformin when I started going to bed at 9:00 PM and sleeping in pitch blackness as part of the LR plan. That made a far bigger difference in lowering my fasting BG. (CT makes an even bigger difference, as it usually causes a sudden 15 to 30 pt. drop, so I do it in the morning, if waking BG is a little high.)

Has anyone else had this experience with Metformin?

I’ve been doing the LR for about 8 months now, and CT for 4 months. I am still waiting for that sudden weight loss. But I feel far better than before, my mood is better, my outlook is much more positive, and I’m generally feeling stronger. I know that Dr. Jack is onto something.

At this point, I’m definitely going to keep Metformin in my arsenal, but I’ll use it only as a backup weapon. Same with PPQ and DHEA. I’ll experiment with those also.

Interesting you should mention Metformin. I have a semi-enlightened, cooperative doc who prescribed it for me. I wanted to try it to increase insulin sensitivity and maybe lose a very stubborn 20 lbs. Tried it for about 3 weeks last fall. It definitely lowered my appetite. (I think it does this by inducing nausea. If you eat only meat, fish, and fat, the nausea is minimized, but still present.) It had the greatest effect on my BG when I took over 2100mg/day.

I stopped Metformin when I started going to bed at 9:00 PM and sleeping in pitch blackness as part of the LR plan. That made a far bigger difference in lowering my fasting BG. (CT makes an even bigger difference, as it usually causes a sudden 15 to 30 pt. drop, so I do it in the morning, if waking BG is a little high.)

Has anyone else had this experience with Metformin?

I’ve been doing the LR for about 8 months now, and CT for 4 months. I am still waiting for that sudden weight loss. But I feel far better than before, my mood is better, my outlook is much more positive, and I’m generally feeling stronger. I know that Dr. Jack is onto something.

At this point, I’m definitely going to keep Metformin in my arsenal, but I’ll use it only as a backup weapon. Same with PPQ and DHEA. I’ll experiment with those also.

Everyone has to understand that when you Leave the Jonses behind – it MUST be a family affair. Your entire family unit has to be on the same page. Everyone in the household has to abide by when lights go out. I’ve finally really begun to see change w/lights out at 8pm. I’m barely able to stay awake until 10pm.

when Jack sliced my 23&me – it was one more thing that reinforced my need to focus on circadian cycles, and seasonal eating. My Grandfather followed the seasons and the sun, and he put emphasis on that for all the grandkids – its only now that I’m starting to see the wisdom of his age, he was in bed by 9pm every night and up by 5am every day, no alarm clock. his wisdom only now is dawning in my brain.

you can treat the symptoms, but if you don’t fix the brain -you won’t get anywhere.

Jack – I’d be honored to do a guest blog. If my efforts can help others its not only a WIN for me, its a WIN for them

Everyone has to understand that when you Leave the Jonses behind – it MUST be a family affair. Your entire family unit has to be on the same page. Everyone in the household has to abide by when lights go out. I’ve finally really begun to see change w/lights out at 8pm. I’m barely able to stay awake until 10pm.

when Jack sliced my 23&me – it was one more thing that reinforced my need to focus on circadian cycles, and seasonal eating. My Grandfather followed the seasons and the sun, and he put emphasis on that for all the grandkids – its only now that I’m starting to see the wisdom of his age, he was in bed by 9pm every night and up by 5am every day, no alarm clock. his wisdom only now is dawning in my brain.

you can treat the symptoms, but if you don’t fix the brain -you won’t get anywhere.

Jack – I’d be honored to do a guest blog. If my efforts can help others its not only a WIN for me, its a WIN for them

Great guest blog MJ! Look at you though, you look great. But yet there are things you need to work on to get to Optimal, as you have found out. This blog is not just for obese people, because you can be ‘non-optimal’ but still not obese. What you look like on the outside doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t something keeping you from Optimal on the inside. You have to be willing to open your mind and change your habits to get there – which you obviously are doing! Thanks for your perspective and encouragement and example!

Great guest blog MJ! Look at you though, you look great. But yet there are things you need to work on to get to Optimal, as you have found out. This blog is not just for obese people, because you can be ‘non-optimal’ but still not obese. What you look like on the outside doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t something keeping you from Optimal on the inside. You have to be willing to open your mind and change your habits to get there – which you obviously are doing! Thanks for your perspective and encouragement and example!

@Caroline Caroline says at my forum, “What would happen if everyone had there own garden in there front and back yard? What would happen if the family ate all summer long out of that garden and put some away for the winter? What would happen if people traded between households and helped the people they knew didn’t have enough?

What would happen if we started building our houses out of local materials only, so the houses would look different all over the world because the local materials are different? What would happen if we powered these houses with local resources? What would happen if we slightly changed the way we lived to reduce our energy consumption? What would happen if we changed laws and bylaws so people could make these changes?

What would happen if we all started eating herbivores (cows, buffalo, etc) feed only on pasture? What would happen if only occasionally, we all ate omnivores (hogs, chickens, etc) mostly feed on pasture but needing additional grain and legume feed?

What would happen if we all started eating only organically produced foods and stopped buying industrially produced foods?

What would happen if we stopped buying stuff we don’t need? What would happen if we stopped buying junk and only bought items that could last a lifetime of use and could be given to our children?

What would happen if we thought about everything that we don’t produce ourselves? What would happen if we wondered about how an item is produced and what the true costs are to the people that produced it and the true costs to the environment?

What would happen if we started to think about our waste stream? What would happen if we became aware of how our “medicines” and “cosmetics” that we use and throw away poison other animals and ourselves? What would happen if people really had to deal with the garbage produced by their own household consumption?

What would happen if we could heal ourselves of most illnesses and not need the care of doctors and the medical system? What would if be like to not have 40 people standing outside a medical clinic hoping for help?

What would happen if we all lived near where we worked, and our work places were safe and healthy? What would happen if women that decided to have children could stay with their children instead of having to go back to work and ship their children off to be raised by strangers?

What would happen if people became aware of how much “raping and pillaging” of the environment and of oppressed peoples occurs so we can have a nice fat gain in our portfolios? What would happen if everyone realized their high paying job with all those benefits was causing suffering for others?

What would happen if we discovered that we were actually slaves of a system that was progressively destroying the world, while enriching the few? What would happen if people decided not to participate in the above?

That’s what “we” could do but I would never want to participate in a system that would “force” these changes on my neighbors. If we are going to change the world it will be through raising the consciousness of people not through oppressive laws which have got us where we are now. Einstein said: “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

@Caroline Caroline says at my forum, “What would happen if everyone had there own garden in there front and back yard? What would happen if the family ate all summer long out of that garden and put some away for the winter? What would happen if people traded between households and helped the people they knew didn’t have enough?

What would happen if we started building our houses out of local materials only, so the houses would look different all over the world because the local materials are different? What would happen if we powered these houses with local resources? What would happen if we slightly changed the way we lived to reduce our energy consumption? What would happen if we changed laws and bylaws so people could make these changes?

What would happen if we all started eating herbivores (cows, buffalo, etc) feed only on pasture? What would happen if only occasionally, we all ate omnivores (hogs, chickens, etc) mostly feed on pasture but needing additional grain and legume feed?

What would happen if we all started eating only organically produced foods and stopped buying industrially produced foods?

What would happen if we stopped buying stuff we don’t need? What would happen if we stopped buying junk and only bought items that could last a lifetime of use and could be given to our children?

What would happen if we thought about everything that we don’t produce ourselves? What would happen if we wondered about how an item is produced and what the true costs are to the people that produced it and the true costs to the environment?

What would happen if we started to think about our waste stream? What would happen if we became aware of how our “medicines” and “cosmetics” that we use and throw away poison other animals and ourselves? What would happen if people really had to deal with the garbage produced by their own household consumption?

What would happen if we could heal ourselves of most illnesses and not need the care of doctors and the medical system? What would if be like to not have 40 people standing outside a medical clinic hoping for help?

What would happen if we all lived near where we worked, and our work places were safe and healthy? What would happen if women that decided to have children could stay with their children instead of having to go back to work and ship their children off to be raised by strangers?

What would happen if people became aware of how much “raping and pillaging” of the environment and of oppressed peoples occurs so we can have a nice fat gain in our portfolios? What would happen if everyone realized their high paying job with all those benefits was causing suffering for others?

What would happen if we discovered that we were actually slaves of a system that was progressively destroying the world, while enriching the few? What would happen if people decided not to participate in the above?

That’s what “we” could do but I would never want to participate in a system that would “force” these changes on my neighbors. If we are going to change the world it will be through raising the consciousness of people not through oppressive laws which have got us where we are now. Einstein said: “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

Let’s hope the Mayans are right about that we are at the end of an era. And that we are currently awaiting the arrival of a new era that is built on concepts like sustainability, the end of rationalism, the end of corporate businesses and the happiness indicator they use in Buthan.

Maybe Dr Kruse has allready started the creative destruction that signals the start of a new cycle.

Let’s hope the Mayans are right about that we are at the end of an era. And that we are currently awaiting the arrival of a new era that is built on concepts like sustainability, the end of rationalism, the end of corporate businesses and the happiness indicator they use in Buthan.

Maybe Dr Kruse has allready started the creative destruction that signals the start of a new cycle.

Great blog post! I had a consult with Dr. K about an hour after he posted it, and so i was only about half through reading. Your post echoes a lot of what I have ahead – so thank you so much for posting this. And it sounds like you had a blast – what a bonus on top of the amazing information!

I would love to see a follow up in a couple of months to see the changes you’re noticing
after implementing what you learned. And I second a guest blog by Gretchen!

Very inspiring,. And thanks so much Dr K! This was my first consult and it was absolutely amazing. I’ve spent my day reading and shopping since we spoke!

Great blog post! I had a consult with Dr. K about an hour after he posted it, and so i was only about half through reading. Your post echoes a lot of what I have ahead – so thank you so much for posting this. And it sounds like you had a blast – what a bonus on top of the amazing information!

I would love to see a follow up in a couple of months to see the changes you’re noticing
after implementing what you learned. And I second a guest blog by Gretchen!

Very inspiring,. And thanks so much Dr K! This was my first consult and it was absolutely amazing. I’ve spent my day reading and shopping since we spoke!

Awesome blog, MJ. Thanks so much for writing it… and allowing us to live vicariously through you (Florida is a long way from New Zealand!). My current thinking about leaving the Jones’ behind revolves around one’s thinking. I’ve learned that fear of something (disease, early death, etc) will only get you started. Your motivation needs to transform as you do. For me, it’s been about willingness to let go of not only my old thoughts but my need to know and to embrace the unknown that awaits me to see what shape it takes. Thanks again to you and Danielle for sharing your experience. And of course to Dr K for sharing himself, his wisdom and energy with all of us.

Awesome blog, MJ. Thanks so much for writing it… and allowing us to live vicariously through you (Florida is a long way from New Zealand!). My current thinking about leaving the Jones’ behind revolves around one’s thinking. I’ve learned that fear of something (disease, early death, etc) will only get you started. Your motivation needs to transform as you do. For me, it’s been about willingness to let go of not only my old thoughts but my need to know and to embrace the unknown that awaits me to see what shape it takes. Thanks again to you and Danielle for sharing your experience. And of course to Dr K for sharing himself, his wisdom and energy with all of us.

@Jerry I think that’s a great question for the ask Jack section of the forum…hang in there with the CT, I saw results much sooner, but I did not have a lot of weight to lose, but when it happened it did seem to just fall off. Did you have your hormones tested?

@Jerry I think that’s a great question for the ask Jack section of the forum…hang in there with the CT, I saw results much sooner, but I did not have a lot of weight to lose, but when it happened it did seem to just fall off. Did you have your hormones tested?

Great Blog, MJ. Like an earlier poster, I also had my first hour long consult this weekend, and it was AWESOME!!! Tons of info to digest, but already put a substantial dent in it. Supplements ordered, and most importantly a great local doc who has agreed to work with me channeling Dr. Kruse. It seems he is intrigued by the unique challenge I present in addition to the “out of the box” Kruse approach. Thank you so much, Dr. Kruse. I fully intend to be one of your successes.

Great Blog, MJ. Like an earlier poster, I also had my first hour long consult this weekend, and it was AWESOME!!! Tons of info to digest, but already put a substantial dent in it. Supplements ordered, and most importantly a great local doc who has agreed to work with me channeling Dr. Kruse. It seems he is intrigued by the unique challenge I present in addition to the “out of the box” Kruse approach. Thank you so much, Dr. Kruse. I fully intend to be one of your successes.

@Gretchen, it’s interesting what you say about the entire family being on board. I envy where you are with that, and wish I could go back to when my kids were little and do it all a little differently. I totally agree that doing it as a family is best. Dr. Kruse however hammered the point home to us, that with or without the support of our families, we needed to make our health top priority. Once you do that, the rest may follow, if they don’t that’s a choice they make, and the ages of my kids, and Dannielle’s make it more their choice than ours at this point. I do think it’s much easier to get the entire family on board when they see how relevant it is for them by seeing the changes in us. I’d love to start over, and back up the truck so to speak on this, but I can’t go back in time, so for now I must move forward for me, then worry about them, that was the main point Dr. Kruse hammered home for the two of us – take care of ourselves first, for once.

@Gretchen, it’s interesting what you say about the entire family being on board. I envy where you are with that, and wish I could go back to when my kids were little and do it all a little differently. I totally agree that doing it as a family is best. Dr. Kruse however hammered the point home to us, that with or without the support of our families, we needed to make our health top priority. Once you do that, the rest may follow, if they don’t that’s a choice they make, and the ages of my kids, and Dannielle’s make it more their choice than ours at this point. I do think it’s much easier to get the entire family on board when they see how relevant it is for them by seeing the changes in us. I’d love to start over, and back up the truck so to speak on this, but I can’t go back in time, so for now I must move forward for me, then worry about them, that was the main point Dr. Kruse hammered home for the two of us – take care of ourselves first, for once.

@Krusing thanks, and yes that is the point, I feel great but yet I’m setting myself up to potentially have disease, but yet there are no outward signs. You don’t have to be obese to be on a course to a disease state, and weight is not the only factor. That is why blood tests are so important for anyone. Even though I personally hate having my blood drawn, and have not been to a doctor in maybe fifteen years until recently to have this testing done(I have not gotten sick at all in that time), I am prioritizing this testing. Once your hormones drop off dramatically you are much more prone to disease, and disease does not discriminate…

@Krusing thanks, and yes that is the point, I feel great but yet I’m setting myself up to potentially have disease, but yet there are no outward signs. You don’t have to be obese to be on a course to a disease state, and weight is not the only factor. That is why blood tests are so important for anyone. Even though I personally hate having my blood drawn, and have not been to a doctor in maybe fifteen years until recently to have this testing done(I have not gotten sick at all in that time), I am prioritizing this testing. Once your hormones drop off dramatically you are much more prone to disease, and disease does not discriminate…

@Colleen glad you enjoyed it, and hahaha it’s all true, Dr. Kruse is a great diagnostician, and very human too, one really funny moment I’ll share if we ever all get a chance to meet in person, (too hard to write out)…

@Colleen glad you enjoyed it, and hahaha it’s all true, Dr. Kruse is a great diagnostician, and very human too, one really funny moment I’ll share if we ever all get a chance to meet in person, (too hard to write out)…

@Diane, what great timing! I’ll definitely let you know how it’s going, and it sounds like your consult went really well, thanks for sharing that, and it would be great to see how you do as time goes on as well!

@Diane, what great timing! I’ll definitely let you know how it’s going, and it sounds like your consult went really well, thanks for sharing that, and it would be great to see how you do as time goes on as well!

@Lauren, hey thanks! Yeah Florida is a little far for you lol… “Your motivation needs to transform as you do.” I love that statement of yours, and this one…”For me, it’s been about willingness to let go of not only my old thoughts but my need to know and to embrace the unknown that awaits me to see what shape it takes.” I understand that need of yours, you just can’t let it stand in your way!

@Lauren, hey thanks! Yeah Florida is a little far for you lol… “Your motivation needs to transform as you do.” I love that statement of yours, and this one…”For me, it’s been about willingness to let go of not only my old thoughts but my need to know and to embrace the unknown that awaits me to see what shape it takes.” I understand that need of yours, you just can’t let it stand in your way!

@Marcia that is so fantastic that you’ve found a doc willing to work with you. If you get a chance put his/her name in the forum for others in your area! I’d meet you in the forum but for now I’ve locked myself out!!! LoL can’t get the password working…ARG…

@Marcia that is so fantastic that you’ve found a doc willing to work with you. If you get a chance put his/her name in the forum for others in your area! I’d meet you in the forum but for now I’ve locked myself out!!! LoL can’t get the password working…ARG…

MJ, very nice guest blog! I agree that testing needs to be done and very few of us do it to the depth and regularity that we should. I should be getting major blood work results back this week or next and hope to get greater insight into what makes me tick (and what to do to make me tick better). I have to admit, I feel really good right now, but want to confirm that the feeling is indicative of real progress toward optimal health. For a variety of work and family related issues I have not had the chance to be as active on the blog and forums as I was a few months ago. I miss the banter!!! I think you and Dannielle were extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend a day with the Doc. Good on you!

For now, I am eating a diet of mostly seafood everyday (love sashimi, having a raw oyster lunch in DC tomorrow, and have really enjoyed seaweed–who knew!?) and still doing CT (ice baths with temp around 45 degrees F) about 3-4 times a week. I still have a weakness for a Venti Breve Cinnamon Dolce Latte at Starbucks now and again, but always making improvement.

I believe guest forums are a highly complimentary addition to this whole approach to becoming optimal. Looking forward to reading more of them, and maybe getting the opportunity to write my own. RWC, aka, Iron Man, QuantumRadical, The Borg.

MJ, very nice guest blog! I agree that testing needs to be done and very few of us do it to the depth and regularity that we should. I should be getting major blood work results back this week or next and hope to get greater insight into what makes me tick (and what to do to make me tick better). I have to admit, I feel really good right now, but want to confirm that the feeling is indicative of real progress toward optimal health. For a variety of work and family related issues I have not had the chance to be as active on the blog and forums as I was a few months ago. I miss the banter!!! I think you and Dannielle were extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend a day with the Doc. Good on you!

For now, I am eating a diet of mostly seafood everyday (love sashimi, having a raw oyster lunch in DC tomorrow, and have really enjoyed seaweed–who knew!?) and still doing CT (ice baths with temp around 45 degrees F) about 3-4 times a week. I still have a weakness for a Venti Breve Cinnamon Dolce Latte at Starbucks now and again, but always making improvement.

I believe guest forums are a highly complimentary addition to this whole approach to becoming optimal. Looking forward to reading more of them, and maybe getting the opportunity to write my own. RWC, aka, Iron Man, QuantumRadical, The Borg.

@Randy, yo, and thanks!!! I think it’s fantastic that you are sticking with your routine first of all! I’m off ice for the summer, but will go back in the fall to my own ice routine, all ice packs. I would love to hear of your progress after these tests or at a later date, especially since you are feeling so great. I too see another potential guest blog! Are you doing all you can do, or have you gotten to optimal? – that would be of interest to us all I think. Optimal is not average, and that’s where my normal to low normal has room for improvement.

We shall banter again, once I can get back in there and you have more time! LoL…So, you like seaweed? I may have to try some other types, honestly can’t say I enjoyed it(it was very rubbery and chewy) but I’m willing to try different varieties. Do you actually order that latte? LoL What a mouth full! And ok yeah that has a lot of sugar http://calorielab.com/restaurants/starbucks/cinnamon-dolce-latte–whip-breve-milk/9/46864 just don’t do it too often (or the doc will know lol), and we want to keep Q-RadRandy around for a long time!

@Randy, yo, and thanks!!! I think it’s fantastic that you are sticking with your routine first of all! I’m off ice for the summer, but will go back in the fall to my own ice routine, all ice packs. I would love to hear of your progress after these tests or at a later date, especially since you are feeling so great. I too see another potential guest blog! Are you doing all you can do, or have you gotten to optimal? – that would be of interest to us all I think. Optimal is not average, and that’s where my normal to low normal has room for improvement.

We shall banter again, once I can get back in there and you have more time! LoL…So, you like seaweed? I may have to try some other types, honestly can’t say I enjoyed it(it was very rubbery and chewy) but I’m willing to try different varieties. Do you actually order that latte? LoL What a mouth full! And ok yeah that has a lot of sugar http://calorielab.com/restaurants/starbucks/cinnamon-dolce-latte–whip-breve-milk/9/46864 just don’t do it too often (or the doc will know lol), and we want to keep Q-RadRandy around for a long time!

MJ – Re: msg #45 “@LinD hey thanks, I will have to look for that movie Hope Springs Eternal, and are you sure the tingling feet is not due to neuropathy, are you pre-diabetic?”

Thanks for your reply. As far as I know, no. I am not pre-diabetic. Last bloodwork was last October 2011… My fasting glucose level was 65. Now, it was quite a long fast as the blood draw was around 1:00pm! and this was after not eating after 7pm the night before. My daily carbs are usually 50 or under, though it has gone over than on occasion lately as I’ve enjoyed some watermelon for a couple days in a row (one or two cups?). I don’t usually have fruit, though I was thinking about a banana last night and that had been the furthest from my thoughts for a long time. It is the season, so I should enjoy it while I can, right? I still haven’t, but to answer your question, I am not pre-diabetic.

MJ – Re: msg #45 “@LinD hey thanks, I will have to look for that movie Hope Springs Eternal, and are you sure the tingling feet is not due to neuropathy, are you pre-diabetic?”

Thanks for your reply. As far as I know, no. I am not pre-diabetic. Last bloodwork was last October 2011… My fasting glucose level was 65. Now, it was quite a long fast as the blood draw was around 1:00pm! and this was after not eating after 7pm the night before. My daily carbs are usually 50 or under, though it has gone over than on occasion lately as I’ve enjoyed some watermelon for a couple days in a row (one or two cups?). I don’t usually have fruit, though I was thinking about a banana last night and that had been the furthest from my thoughts for a long time. It is the season, so I should enjoy it while I can, right? I still haven’t, but to answer your question, I am not pre-diabetic.

@LinD your symptoms have been for about 10 months so just at the time you tested, please get your blood sugar retested soon just to be sure. I am guessing you are testing annually, so you’ll be due in the fall. I know you are also dealing with MS and you look amazing! It sounds like you are doing really well with your carbs! I hear you on the summer fruit! I have upped my fruit intake a little and will be tapering off soon…I can’t stay away from fresh summer peaches!!!

@LinD your symptoms have been for about 10 months so just at the time you tested, please get your blood sugar retested soon just to be sure. I am guessing you are testing annually, so you’ll be due in the fall. I know you are also dealing with MS and you look amazing! It sounds like you are doing really well with your carbs! I hear you on the summer fruit! I have upped my fruit intake a little and will be tapering off soon…I can’t stay away from fresh summer peaches!!!

Yes, Dr. K, that was the conclusion of my neuro, too, but of course I want another reason. (Denial is my middle name?) I’ve never had a symptom last this long like; max is three months. I guess the weightloss with hCG last year disturbed my messed up myelin. Plus the longer I go with this diagnosis, the likelihood of a disease taking its toll. 🙁 THIS I want to STOP and why I am reading your blog and implementing what I learn. Could I do it better/more? Absolutely yes.

Yes, Dr. K, that was the conclusion of my neuro, too, but of course I want another reason. (Denial is my middle name?) I’ve never had a symptom last this long like; max is three months. I guess the weightloss with hCG last year disturbed my messed up myelin. Plus the longer I go with this diagnosis, the likelihood of a disease taking its toll. 🙁 THIS I want to STOP and why I am reading your blog and implementing what I learn. Could I do it better/more? Absolutely yes.

So, despite the neuro accepting my numb feet is likely due to the MS, no other tests except a lumbar MRI (plus brain MRI) were done. Also, she doesn’t want me on steroids anymore, so nothing there either to calm the inflammation. I’d rather not be on the steroids anyway.

Lastly, I received a letter last week she is leaving the MS Clinic at UTSW…. So maybe Frohman will take me on, though he usually only takes difficult cases.

@Lin D you need to pay deep attention to the veggies Terry advocates but you need to consider remaining in deep ketosis and an almost full bore Epi Paleo template for fats and proteins to restore the brain’s ability to make myelin and simultaneously lower CNS inflammation. It is all about restoring the neuroprotectant chemicals that are all made from DHA.

So, despite the neuro accepting my numb feet is likely due to the MS, no other tests except a lumbar MRI (plus brain MRI) were done. Also, she doesn’t want me on steroids anymore, so nothing there either to calm the inflammation. I’d rather not be on the steroids anyway.

Lastly, I received a letter last week she is leaving the MS Clinic at UTSW…. So maybe Frohman will take me on, though he usually only takes difficult cases.

@Lin D you need to pay deep attention to the veggies Terry advocates but you need to consider remaining in deep ketosis and an almost full bore Epi Paleo template for fats and proteins to restore the brain’s ability to make myelin and simultaneously lower CNS inflammation. It is all about restoring the neuroprotectant chemicals that are all made from DHA.

I confess I don’t eat a lot of veggies… mostly fish/shrimp, grass-fed beef, and store-bought rib-eye or New York strip. Veggies I do eat: spinach, asparagus, romaine, onion, sweet potato (but maybe that’s not considered a veggie). Nevertheless, I know I need more greens; would like to try kale.

Here is today’s food diary breakdown:
Prot=83
Fat=151
Carbs=64

I don’t usually have this many carbs, but I thought I better get in a banana while I was thinking about it.

The macadamia nuts are probably a no-no for me, but this is what I’ve had today (or will have):

I confess I don’t eat a lot of veggies… mostly fish/shrimp, grass-fed beef, and store-bought rib-eye or New York strip. Veggies I do eat: spinach, asparagus, romaine, onion, sweet potato (but maybe that’s not considered a veggie). Nevertheless, I know I need more greens; would like to try kale.

Here is today’s food diary breakdown:
Prot=83
Fat=151
Carbs=64

I don’t usually have this many carbs, but I thought I better get in a banana while I was thinking about it.

The macadamia nuts are probably a no-no for me, but this is what I’ve had today (or will have):

Thank you MJ for putting the day into words. It was great to read about your day and how you transformed your thoughts as the day went on. I am one of those people who started BHRT, stayed on it a couple of years and decided I didn’tt need it. Two years later I have Hashimotos and a slew of other issues I am working on. Heed the advice of this great man and get some BHRT if your labs show you need it.

And thanks to You Dr. Kruse for your generosity of that day to two lucky forum members.

Thank you MJ for putting the day into words. It was great to read about your day and how you transformed your thoughts as the day went on. I am one of those people who started BHRT, stayed on it a couple of years and decided I didn’tt need it. Two years later I have Hashimotos and a slew of other issues I am working on. Heed the advice of this great man and get some BHRT if your labs show you need it.

And thanks to You Dr. Kruse for your generosity of that day to two lucky forum members.

Patty Cakes hey, thanks, and sorry about the Hasimotos, that’s auto-immune right? Hopefully the diet and CT are helping with some of that…Are you back on BHRT? I would love to hear more about your experiences with BHRT as that feels like a whole new rabbit hole!!! Some of the reading I’m doing is helping me understand it a little better, but it’s a whale of a topic for sure, and it seems if you replace one you need to replace them all, and so I see myself doing a lot more reading still. I’m glad you have Dr. Kruse to help you work through your latest issues…

Patty Cakes hey, thanks, and sorry about the Hasimotos, that’s auto-immune right? Hopefully the diet and CT are helping with some of that…Are you back on BHRT? I would love to hear more about your experiences with BHRT as that feels like a whole new rabbit hole!!! Some of the reading I’m doing is helping me understand it a little better, but it’s a whale of a topic for sure, and it seems if you replace one you need to replace them all, and so I see myself doing a lot more reading still. I’m glad you have Dr. Kruse to help you work through your latest issues…

MJ, I’m guessing Dr K mentioned this, but Suzanne Somers’ books are great for understanding BHRT and many other issues. Most of the books are interviews with experts in the field, so very helpful. It’s a rabbit hole I’m working my way down, too. Lauren

MJ, I’m guessing Dr K mentioned this, but Suzanne Somers’ books are great for understanding BHRT and many other issues. Most of the books are interviews with experts in the field, so very helpful. It’s a rabbit hole I’m working my way down, too. Lauren

@Lauren I’m reading Breakthrough right now, that is one interesting take on longevity, and it’s so nice to have you down here with me!!! When the forum is revamped and I can access it again, I’d love to chat with you more about all this!

@Lauren I’m reading Breakthrough right now, that is one interesting take on longevity, and it’s so nice to have you down here with me!!! When the forum is revamped and I can access it again, I’d love to chat with you more about all this!

Patty Cakes: Wow, I will take heed of your message. You said you took BHRT which seems like they helped, then you thought you didn’t need them (which indicates they worked/helped) then stopped then ensued health problems.

Even though I’m working on this from a much earlier age, I will always keep in the back of my head BHRT even if I feel in supreme health from following Jack’s protocols. I just hate to think so far in the future…but I know too well that time creeps up.

Basically I am ‘recovering’ from last year which amazes me b/c it didn’t take much for decline, yet for repair it takes longer. I don’t know why it works that way, but this is where patience and having a good mindset is important.

I am SOOOOOOO grateful to Dr. K and his generous work on this site. Honestly I stumbled across it in the winter RIGHT when I needed it!

Basically, I just follow any advice from Dr. K which includes readings from Terry Wahl, Blackburn (sp?), Suzanne Sommers…etc. Not to mention that when I do read others’ work that he recommends, I feel so comfortable reading the material since I have read so much of it here on this site.

It takes a fire 5 minutes to ravage your house…….and takes a year to rebuild. It take 4 minutes to give you a cerebral stroke due to lack of blood flow…….and takes a lifetime to recover from it. If you eat badly it diminishes your hormone response by altered diet or light patterns slowly but consistently you pay the price………and you wonder why it takes so long to recover? Are you connecting any dots yet? An ounce of prevention saves you a pound of recovery in all things on this planet. This is the rule of evolution and life. It is a core foundational principle most remain blind too. Try be aware of the things you keep in your blind spot…….it is here where your primal instinct is buried.

Patty Cakes: Wow, I will take heed of your message. You said you took BHRT which seems like they helped, then you thought you didn’t need them (which indicates they worked/helped) then stopped then ensued health problems.

Even though I’m working on this from a much earlier age, I will always keep in the back of my head BHRT even if I feel in supreme health from following Jack’s protocols. I just hate to think so far in the future…but I know too well that time creeps up.

Basically I am ‘recovering’ from last year which amazes me b/c it didn’t take much for decline, yet for repair it takes longer. I don’t know why it works that way, but this is where patience and having a good mindset is important.

I am SOOOOOOO grateful to Dr. K and his generous work on this site. Honestly I stumbled across it in the winter RIGHT when I needed it!

Basically, I just follow any advice from Dr. K which includes readings from Terry Wahl, Blackburn (sp?), Suzanne Sommers…etc. Not to mention that when I do read others’ work that he recommends, I feel so comfortable reading the material since I have read so much of it here on this site.

It takes a fire 5 minutes to ravage your house…….and takes a year to rebuild. It take 4 minutes to give you a cerebral stroke due to lack of blood flow…….and takes a lifetime to recover from it. If you eat badly it diminishes your hormone response by altered diet or light patterns slowly but consistently you pay the price………and you wonder why it takes so long to recover? Are you connecting any dots yet? An ounce of prevention saves you a pound of recovery in all things on this planet. This is the rule of evolution and life. It is a core foundational principle most remain blind too. Try be aware of the things you keep in your blind spot…….it is here where your primal instinct is buried.

MJ, thanks so much for taking the time to write this interesting blog post. It’s nice to see more of Dr K’s personality. I’ve been doing some of that sun gazing. And thanks for the reminder of Suzanne Summers books for BHRT.

MJ, thanks so much for taking the time to write this interesting blog post. It’s nice to see more of Dr K’s personality. I’ve been doing some of that sun gazing. And thanks for the reminder of Suzanne Summers books for BHRT.

@Zorica I have not read Terry Wahl or Blackburn but I agree that the reading I’m doing now is much easier for having followed along with Dr. Kruse! Also it sounds like you stumbled across his site at a great time! I love it that you are being proactive with your health…

@Zorica I have not read Terry Wahl or Blackburn but I agree that the reading I’m doing now is much easier for having followed along with Dr. Kruse! Also it sounds like you stumbled across his site at a great time! I love it that you are being proactive with your health…

@Nonchalant thank you, Dr. Kruse has a great personality. He’s really a good guy, but don’t tell him I said that LoL…It was great to see him in action, he’s like a rolling stone! As for the loggin, I was thinking about it, just didn’t want to have two accounts to deal with, but I wanna play!!! See that’s the story of my life, I need to just take action haha…

@Nonchalant thank you, Dr. Kruse has a great personality. He’s really a good guy, but don’t tell him I said that LoL…It was great to see him in action, he’s like a rolling stone! As for the loggin, I was thinking about it, just didn’t want to have two accounts to deal with, but I wanna play!!! See that’s the story of my life, I need to just take action haha…

@LinD I’m not taking either yet, but it is something for me to think about and discuss with my doc or Dr. Kruse in more detail when I have my other labs back, and when I understand the process better. That is a good question for Dr. Kruse when he cruises on through here and to confirm if I’m understanding this correctly. I need to do my hormone testing first to see where I’m at too. I have the kit and need to wait for my next cycle for that. Cycloset I think (still learning), for one thing will help you reset your circadian rhythm and can also I believe help with LR if you have that…I believe perimenopause/menopause can cause a cascade of things to happen like estrogen dominance that can lead to poor sleep that can lead to Leptin Resistance that can mess up your production of melatonin and then also messes up production of prolactin which I think messes with your recycling/cell turnover and on and on (meaning that’s all I understand so far LOL) eventually poor sleep, once you are reset I’m not sure if you need it as maintenance …Metformin I have no understanding of as of yet…I need to research it still. I’ve been given lots of work to do!!

@LinD I’m not taking either yet, but it is something for me to think about and discuss with my doc or Dr. Kruse in more detail when I have my other labs back, and when I understand the process better. That is a good question for Dr. Kruse when he cruises on through here and to confirm if I’m understanding this correctly. I need to do my hormone testing first to see where I’m at too. I have the kit and need to wait for my next cycle for that. Cycloset I think (still learning), for one thing will help you reset your circadian rhythm and can also I believe help with LR if you have that…I believe perimenopause/menopause can cause a cascade of things to happen like estrogen dominance that can lead to poor sleep that can lead to Leptin Resistance that can mess up your production of melatonin and then also messes up production of prolactin which I think messes with your recycling/cell turnover and on and on (meaning that’s all I understand so far LOL) eventually poor sleep, once you are reset I’m not sure if you need it as maintenance …Metformin I have no understanding of as of yet…I need to research it still. I’ve been given lots of work to do!!

Hi, and thanks to all of you for letting me listen in & learn for the past month. Had my first consult with Dr. Kruse on Sun., yesterday ran to my hormone doc with a list of tests. Now the patience (was ready to jump right in), since I’ve learned from you wonderful folks how targeted real healing needs to be (put up the rest of my supps into an already full freezer of LEF stuff). But the epi paleo gods were smiling on me – if I had waited even one day to get going on the test, my hormone doc would have been gone to Germany for 2 weeks. Thanks Dr. Kruse – this is the first time in 20 years I had a sense of real confidence in “a way”. Can’t tell you how many I’ve tried (starting with Adelle Davis to have my first healthy baby at 16 – that was before food/supps for health was even trendy [I’m now 55]). Pushed through alot of crisis points, and hope I can give back just a little of what I’ve received from you folks. By the way doc, put the PPI’s where they belong, and my BHRT doc here looks forward to our second consult – she’s on board (we need all the light we can get in this part of the world). Ate a shellfish-bacon-C-oil dinner: my hubby said he felt like he got a huge shot of energy and motivation that lasted for 8 hours; as for me, felt pretty good until the night after 5 mg Progesterone and .25 mg T creams. Within 15 minutes of that had what seemed a little thyroid storm (about 9 pm). I’m usually asleep by 9, but couldn’t sleep until 2 then. Any ideas?

Hi, and thanks to all of you for letting me listen in & learn for the past month. Had my first consult with Dr. Kruse on Sun., yesterday ran to my hormone doc with a list of tests. Now the patience (was ready to jump right in), since I’ve learned from you wonderful folks how targeted real healing needs to be (put up the rest of my supps into an already full freezer of LEF stuff). But the epi paleo gods were smiling on me – if I had waited even one day to get going on the test, my hormone doc would have been gone to Germany for 2 weeks. Thanks Dr. Kruse – this is the first time in 20 years I had a sense of real confidence in “a way”. Can’t tell you how many I’ve tried (starting with Adelle Davis to have my first healthy baby at 16 – that was before food/supps for health was even trendy [I’m now 55]). Pushed through alot of crisis points, and hope I can give back just a little of what I’ve received from you folks. By the way doc, put the PPI’s where they belong, and my BHRT doc here looks forward to our second consult – she’s on board (we need all the light we can get in this part of the world). Ate a shellfish-bacon-C-oil dinner: my hubby said he felt like he got a huge shot of energy and motivation that lasted for 8 hours; as for me, felt pretty good until the night after 5 mg Progesterone and .25 mg T creams. Within 15 minutes of that had what seemed a little thyroid storm (about 9 pm). I’m usually asleep by 9, but couldn’t sleep until 2 then. Any ideas?

@LinD yes, if you order the correct one’s! You should have taken advantage of the email educational consult deal we offered in July. If you are not on the mailing list when we offer these beauties you lose out. I will not offer any deals like that outside the mailing list. This month members will get the early low down on the new pilot program we are beginning for live in person consults. This will be our first toe dip into this area. MJ and Danielle coming to Florida got me thinking more about how to make this work for our members better.

@LinD yes, if you order the correct one’s! You should have taken advantage of the email educational consult deal we offered in July. If you are not on the mailing list when we offer these beauties you lose out. I will not offer any deals like that outside the mailing list. This month members will get the early low down on the new pilot program we are beginning for live in person consults. This will be our first toe dip into this area. MJ and Danielle coming to Florida got me thinking more about how to make this work for our members better.

@becca sorry I’m not up to that quite yet so I don’t know why your sleep is interrupted, maybe someone else will have a clue. I just wanted to say I’m glad you caught your hormone doc in time, and thanks for sharing!

@becca sorry I’m not up to that quite yet so I don’t know why your sleep is interrupted, maybe someone else will have a clue. I just wanted to say I’m glad you caught your hormone doc in time, and thanks for sharing!

@Jack I think one of the most valuable parts of this experience was being able to have you show us exactly what we needed, and then have the opportunity to ask you why each supplement was important to our individual health. I have an idea for you, something I will think a little more on, but that I feel may help the process even more with face to face meetings like this…

@Jack I think one of the most valuable parts of this experience was being able to have you show us exactly what we needed, and then have the opportunity to ask you why each supplement was important to our individual health. I have an idea for you, something I will think a little more on, but that I feel may help the process even more with face to face meetings like this…

Yes, I knew about the July special, but we sold our home of 17 years and there was no time to stop and write up my history, etc.—-with so much to do, to pack, and to get out of the house. Maybe the health gods will look kindly my way and offer a similar offer. 😉 Now we are foot loose and fancy free temporarily living in an apartment. Move two happens end of September/early October. And then it will be crazy all over again.

Yes, I knew about the July special, but we sold our home of 17 years and there was no time to stop and write up my history, etc.—-with so much to do, to pack, and to get out of the house. Maybe the health gods will look kindly my way and offer a similar offer. 😉 Now we are foot loose and fancy free temporarily living in an apartment. Move two happens end of September/early October. And then it will be crazy all over again.

hey all. Just wanted to stop by and let you know that Dr. K gave us a great field trip to Life Extensions. That was one of my favorite parts of the day. Nothing like having a professional take you by the hand and walk you thru and pick out exactly what YOU need. Dr. K doesn’t have to be there in person, as he can hone in on your “condition” and he will advise what supplements are good for you. BTW, I upped my progesterone and am finding that I am falling asleep much quicker now. Also, I am waking up, without an alarm everyday, around 7 a.m. things are starting to “click”

hey all. Just wanted to stop by and let you know that Dr. K gave us a great field trip to Life Extensions. That was one of my favorite parts of the day. Nothing like having a professional take you by the hand and walk you thru and pick out exactly what YOU need. Dr. K doesn’t have to be there in person, as he can hone in on your “condition” and he will advise what supplements are good for you. BTW, I upped my progesterone and am finding that I am falling asleep much quicker now. Also, I am waking up, without an alarm everyday, around 7 a.m. things are starting to “click”

MJ…your story really brings home the benefits of working directly with Dr. Kruse. I’m experiencing some frustrating runarounds from my local Doctors…hard to find somebody on board with the BHRT despite all the research etc. So, it was good to read about your experience. I’m waiting for the new personal consults to start for me and my family. I’m so sure I’m on the right track with the education I’ve gotten from JK thus far!

MJ…your story really brings home the benefits of working directly with Dr. Kruse. I’m experiencing some frustrating runarounds from my local Doctors…hard to find somebody on board with the BHRT despite all the research etc. So, it was good to read about your experience. I’m waiting for the new personal consults to start for me and my family. I’m so sure I’m on the right track with the education I’ve gotten from JK thus far!

@souldanzer hey, thanks and by the way, I love what you and some of the others are doing on the forum with seafood it’s awesome! I can read it, just can’t respond, so I hope to join in with you as soon as I am able to.

@souldanzer hey, thanks and by the way, I love what you and some of the others are doing on the forum with seafood it’s awesome! I can read it, just can’t respond, so I hope to join in with you as soon as I am able to.

@Dannielle awesome on the progesterone and it clicking YES, and I agree you could definitely get your supplements under control in a consult. What we had was the gift of time to reflect later and ask things we may have missed in the store, and that you could do in a follow up consult.

@Dannielle awesome on the progesterone and it clicking YES, and I agree you could definitely get your supplements under control in a consult. What we had was the gift of time to reflect later and ask things we may have missed in the store, and that you could do in a follow up consult.

@souldanzer you are the woman I KNOW you can do this, my gawd fish heads in a blender :-O LOL you rock!!! Oysters will be nothing! By the way I put cocktail sauce on it, that helped…Dr. Kruse also suggested we could buy them canned and cook them in the oven with, let me see, butter, cream and organic lettuce cut up…Dannielle does that sound right? He said it’s delicious! So maybe start with cooked and eventually move up…

@souldanzer you are the woman I KNOW you can do this, my gawd fish heads in a blender :-O LOL you rock!!! Oysters will be nothing! By the way I put cocktail sauce on it, that helped…Dr. Kruse also suggested we could buy them canned and cook them in the oven with, let me see, butter, cream and organic lettuce cut up…Dannielle does that sound right? He said it’s delicious! So maybe start with cooked and eventually move up…

@seahorse (I love your user name, cuz I love seahorses!) I totally hear you on the local docs, this is a major frustration of mine. Try looking for a doctor who specializes in longevity they seem to understand BHRT the most…I just found a list and am looking into it but none are close, really I just wish Dr. Kruse could write me prescriptions in NY!!! The alternative is going to Tenn. to see the doc directly, you have to weigh it all out…by the way I think it’s fantastic that you are doing consults for your family too!!

@seahorse (I love your user name, cuz I love seahorses!) I totally hear you on the local docs, this is a major frustration of mine. Try looking for a doctor who specializes in longevity they seem to understand BHRT the most…I just found a list and am looking into it but none are close, really I just wish Dr. Kruse could write me prescriptions in NY!!! The alternative is going to Tenn. to see the doc directly, you have to weigh it all out…by the way I think it’s fantastic that you are doing consults for your family too!!

@Jerry The first one is a history story…….and outdated. The second one has so much old data and no new data……science does nto stand still because you do. Adapt and change is my motto. His point about pub med however remains spot on. He seems to be clueless about brain evolution…….like most in the paleo community. This is not an area they have expertise in. Most of them think we got a big brain from eating meat. Brain gut 5, based upon the work of Cunnane, Crawford, and Kuipers blows that notion up. All you have to do is read it and you begin to realize that what the basis of paleo is today is not optimal……its a really good option compared to a SAD. that is a great thing……dont get me wrong. But Paleo is being sold in books as the be all cure all. Look at their covers. Then look at internet forums and see the disconnect. Somebody has to ask why? So i did. They decided to shoot me because my message is not congruent with theirs. That is scary to many who are trying to lead the meme that has become paleo………I am moving off of that and more to where the science takes me. Paleo is becoming just like veganism…….a dogma in its own right.

@Jerry The first one is a history story…….and outdated. The second one has so much old data and no new data……science does nto stand still because you do. Adapt and change is my motto. His point about pub med however remains spot on. He seems to be clueless about brain evolution…….like most in the paleo community. This is not an area they have expertise in. Most of them think we got a big brain from eating meat. Brain gut 5, based upon the work of Cunnane, Crawford, and Kuipers blows that notion up. All you have to do is read it and you begin to realize that what the basis of paleo is today is not optimal……its a really good option compared to a SAD. that is a great thing……dont get me wrong. But Paleo is being sold in books as the be all cure all. Look at their covers. Then look at internet forums and see the disconnect. Somebody has to ask why? So i did. They decided to shoot me because my message is not congruent with theirs. That is scary to many who are trying to lead the meme that has become paleo………I am moving off of that and more to where the science takes me. Paleo is becoming just like veganism…….a dogma in its own right.

@MJ: I actually like the smoked ones. The boiled ones are ok. Only the raw ones left to try! Raw fish head pro over here…. got busted by the roommate the other day 😀 He almost fell over when the fish stared back at him in the blender, lol.

Yeah, I’m not really sure how this all happened so fast thinking about it now…. I guess I won’t partake in the butter and cream – AI protocol for me. I hide the boiled ones in salads sometimes.

@MJ: I actually like the smoked ones. The boiled ones are ok. Only the raw ones left to try! Raw fish head pro over here…. got busted by the roommate the other day 😀 He almost fell over when the fish stared back at him in the blender, lol.

Yeah, I’m not really sure how this all happened so fast thinking about it now…. I guess I won’t partake in the butter and cream – AI protocol for me. I hide the boiled ones in salads sometimes.

@Jerry thanks for sharing these I read the first article so far…there’s a lot of info there, lots I didn’t know about the history, and this stood out to me towards the end:
“The supplements that most often help to correct diabetes-like conditions are niacinamide, thiamine, thyroid, and progesterone or pregnenolone. Vitamins D and K are clearly protective against developing diabetes, and their effects on many regulatory processes suggest that they would also help to correct existing hyperglycemia.” Since Diabetes is something I’m out to avoid, I was really happy to see that both of these vitamins which I’ve added to my routine are protective! I’ll try to find some time to read the other article, when I can.

@Jerry thanks for sharing these I read the first article so far…there’s a lot of info there, lots I didn’t know about the history, and this stood out to me towards the end:
“The supplements that most often help to correct diabetes-like conditions are niacinamide, thiamine, thyroid, and progesterone or pregnenolone. Vitamins D and K are clearly protective against developing diabetes, and their effects on many regulatory processes suggest that they would also help to correct existing hyperglycemia.” Since Diabetes is something I’m out to avoid, I was really happy to see that both of these vitamins which I’ve added to my routine are protective! I’ll try to find some time to read the other article, when I can.

“..Dr. Kruse taught us something very important about the health of our husbands, and one topic concerning men that came up was on premature ejaculation and how it could indicate a heart condition, because the absence of blood flow originates in the heart. So couples, if any of you have this issue it is really important to get that checked by a cardiologist!..”

@Resurg that will be a topic for a new series down the road. When I do educational consults often times the symptoms and the labs allow me to make predictions about symptoms people invariable leave out. I call it thin slicing. I usually just say it and explain it and it leaves some people dumbfounded. The best is when you see me in person and I look at your labs and come in the room and hand you a piece of paper and say we need these labs because based upon your innards this is what you have. I do this before ever talking to them. It is the power of observation and experience. When they get their labs and they come back just like I said…….i have their attention. It makes them buying into change easier. The biggest impediment to change is belief and the dogma buried in us. Once you can make them perceive the problem from a new angle you as a physician have a chance t help them help themselves. My real goal as a physician is to get a patient to that threshold. Everyone has it in them……it is my job to teach them how to find their inner guru and listen to it and not the friends family or the the messages they get from the media.

“..Dr. Kruse taught us something very important about the health of our husbands, and one topic concerning men that came up was on premature ejaculation and how it could indicate a heart condition, because the absence of blood flow originates in the heart. So couples, if any of you have this issue it is really important to get that checked by a cardiologist!..”

@Resurg that will be a topic for a new series down the road. When I do educational consults often times the symptoms and the labs allow me to make predictions about symptoms people invariable leave out. I call it thin slicing. I usually just say it and explain it and it leaves some people dumbfounded. The best is when you see me in person and I look at your labs and come in the room and hand you a piece of paper and say we need these labs because based upon your innards this is what you have. I do this before ever talking to them. It is the power of observation and experience. When they get their labs and they come back just like I said…….i have their attention. It makes them buying into change easier. The biggest impediment to change is belief and the dogma buried in us. Once you can make them perceive the problem from a new angle you as a physician have a chance t help them help themselves. My real goal as a physician is to get a patient to that threshold. Everyone has it in them……it is my job to teach them how to find their inner guru and listen to it and not the friends family or the the messages they get from the media.

Jack, I fully agree. We all must understand the crucial difference between our beliefs and our experiences. Our belief’s are generally dogmatic.

We carry strong beliefs and when we have experiences which don’t fit the belief, there is the tendency of the mind not to see those experiences, not to take note of them because they are very disturbing. They destroy our belief and we want to cling to our belief. We become more and more blind to life – Dogma becomes a blindfold on the eyes.

If you have a belief and you come against an experience which the belief says is not possible, or the experience is such that you have to drop the belief, what are you going to choose – the belief or the experience? The tendency of the mind is to choose the belief, to forget about the experience. That’s how we have been missing many opportunities when they have knocked at our door.

We have to Remember it is not only us who are seeking truth – truth is also seeking us. Many times the hand has come very close to us, it has almost touched us, but we shrugged ourself away. It was not fitting with the prevailing dogma and we chose to choose our belief.

If one has a certain belief and life does not fit with it, what is one going to do? One can go on showing the crucifix – but the vampire is a Jew. Then he is not going to take any note of the cross. Then what is one going to do?

Life is so vast and beliefs are so small; life is so infinite and beliefs are so tiny. Ultimately Life never fits any dogma and if you try to force life into your beliefs you are trying to do the impossible. It has never happened; it cannot happen in the nature of things. We should Drop all beliefs and start learning how to experience…

Jack, I fully agree. We all must understand the crucial difference between our beliefs and our experiences. Our belief’s are generally dogmatic.

We carry strong beliefs and when we have experiences which don’t fit the belief, there is the tendency of the mind not to see those experiences, not to take note of them because they are very disturbing. They destroy our belief and we want to cling to our belief. We become more and more blind to life – Dogma becomes a blindfold on the eyes.

If you have a belief and you come against an experience which the belief says is not possible, or the experience is such that you have to drop the belief, what are you going to choose – the belief or the experience? The tendency of the mind is to choose the belief, to forget about the experience. That’s how we have been missing many opportunities when they have knocked at our door.

We have to Remember it is not only us who are seeking truth – truth is also seeking us. Many times the hand has come very close to us, it has almost touched us, but we shrugged ourself away. It was not fitting with the prevailing dogma and we chose to choose our belief.

If one has a certain belief and life does not fit with it, what is one going to do? One can go on showing the crucifix – but the vampire is a Jew. Then he is not going to take any note of the cross. Then what is one going to do?

Life is so vast and beliefs are so small; life is so infinite and beliefs are so tiny. Ultimately Life never fits any dogma and if you try to force life into your beliefs you are trying to do the impossible. It has never happened; it cannot happen in the nature of things. We should Drop all beliefs and start learning how to experience…

@Dali Dula that was one of the most interesting things I’ve read in a long time. It puts the concept of eating locally into perspective for me. It also reminds me of a book I read about how landscapers are responsible for all the allergies we see today because of imported and manipulated planting. It helps explain how when I am away from home and eating differently I never feel quite right. This also makes me wish I’d put my kids in the garden more, and gardened with them more. It explains the little barbs and rough edges on plants as having a purpose for transdermal absorption of nanonutirents, and it makes me think that when I do garden I should not resent the scratches I get! We need soil contact and plant contact…I think about that and how my kids play soccer on turf fields!!! We have so totally manipulated our environments as Dr. Kruse has pointed out as well, and not for the better. This corroborates that thinking.

I think the following is an interesting concept where the author suggests capsule dusting when taking herbs, and would find that an interesting study:
“I assume that dried herbal medicine particles could likewise pass through the soft palate into the patient’s brain if, those particles had soft palate access. The gelatin casing prevents that contact. I believe that hypothalamic herbal constituent uptake may be hypercritical for initiating healing response(s) and/or enhancing ongoing body healing efforts. The simple remedy is to open one capsule and dump the contents over the other capsules in the bottle and shake well for a few seconds until all capsules are dusted with the first capsule’s contents.

My patients have noticed a vast improvement in speed and intensity of symptom resolution Some have complained about the surprisingly strong tastes and odors of some herbs and seaweeds.

I was alerted to the possibilities of capsule dusting by noticing improvements in patient responses after the patient began to use bulk herbs and loaded 00 capsules at home using a simple capping tray. Those capsules were very dusty. ”

@Dali Dula that was one of the most interesting things I’ve read in a long time. It puts the concept of eating locally into perspective for me. It also reminds me of a book I read about how landscapers are responsible for all the allergies we see today because of imported and manipulated planting. It helps explain how when I am away from home and eating differently I never feel quite right. This also makes me wish I’d put my kids in the garden more, and gardened with them more. It explains the little barbs and rough edges on plants as having a purpose for transdermal absorption of nanonutirents, and it makes me think that when I do garden I should not resent the scratches I get! We need soil contact and plant contact…I think about that and how my kids play soccer on turf fields!!! We have so totally manipulated our environments as Dr. Kruse has pointed out as well, and not for the better. This corroborates that thinking.

I think the following is an interesting concept where the author suggests capsule dusting when taking herbs, and would find that an interesting study:
“I assume that dried herbal medicine particles could likewise pass through the soft palate into the patient’s brain if, those particles had soft palate access. The gelatin casing prevents that contact. I believe that hypothalamic herbal constituent uptake may be hypercritical for initiating healing response(s) and/or enhancing ongoing body healing efforts. The simple remedy is to open one capsule and dump the contents over the other capsules in the bottle and shake well for a few seconds until all capsules are dusted with the first capsule’s contents.

My patients have noticed a vast improvement in speed and intensity of symptom resolution Some have complained about the surprisingly strong tastes and odors of some herbs and seaweeds.

I was alerted to the possibilities of capsule dusting by noticing improvements in patient responses after the patient began to use bulk herbs and loaded 00 capsules at home using a simple capping tray. Those capsules were very dusty. ”

MJ on eating local & a little on dogma thrown in: I have a friend who grew up in Nova Scotia and came here to the SW as a young adult about 20 years ago; she returns there once a year for a couple of weeks and says when she comes back here within a week she feels dull and heavy from the change. Early epigenetic programming or just plain fresh fish for a few weeks? I have a hunch dogma is territorial as well. If language has an effect on brain wiring, how much more food?

MJ on eating local & a little on dogma thrown in: I have a friend who grew up in Nova Scotia and came here to the SW as a young adult about 20 years ago; she returns there once a year for a couple of weeks and says when she comes back here within a week she feels dull and heavy from the change. Early epigenetic programming or just plain fresh fish for a few weeks? I have a hunch dogma is territorial as well. If language has an effect on brain wiring, how much more food?

@becca before I fully respond, just trying to understand first…do you think she may feel bad/ill off or whatever when she comes back in part because she “thinks” being home where she grew up the food is better for her? Meaning her thinking it makes it so, or it’s coincidental that seafood will do that for her no matter the location?

@becca before I fully respond, just trying to understand first…do you think she may feel bad/ill off or whatever when she comes back in part because she “thinks” being home where she grew up the food is better for her? Meaning her thinking it makes it so, or it’s coincidental that seafood will do that for her no matter the location?

@Zorica it is not the end of the world……..it is the beginning of a new world. We must always be aware of what we really have no clue about. How do we do this……..always remain curious……when you do you never miss an opportunity to learn because your mind is spread wide open by the possibilities.

Detach yourself from the things your want and begin to focus on the things you need. Needs are primal, and wants are neolithic. Don’t let yesterday’s beliefs limit today’s potential.

@Zorica it is not the end of the world……..it is the beginning of a new world. We must always be aware of what we really have no clue about. How do we do this……..always remain curious……when you do you never miss an opportunity to learn because your mind is spread wide open by the possibilities.

Detach yourself from the things your want and begin to focus on the things you need. Needs are primal, and wants are neolithic. Don’t let yesterday’s beliefs limit today’s potential.

“Chuckle”, the ryan drum article reminds me when I was kid age 4-6 living at the state park in Michigan. I was left on my own a lot and did a lot of grazing in the yard. I remember being particularly enthused over some leaves that were kind of sour tasting. In the spring I would suck the nectar out of the lilac flowers, quite tasty. If course I drank as much maple sap as I could before Ma discovered and chased me away. Plain grass like the cows ate was not tasty and I could never figure out why they liked it so much. My dolls and I would have tea parties under the trees and dined with many different kinds of leaves and flowers!

“Chuckle”, the ryan drum article reminds me when I was kid age 4-6 living at the state park in Michigan. I was left on my own a lot and did a lot of grazing in the yard. I remember being particularly enthused over some leaves that were kind of sour tasting. In the spring I would suck the nectar out of the lilac flowers, quite tasty. If course I drank as much maple sap as I could before Ma discovered and chased me away. Plain grass like the cows ate was not tasty and I could never figure out why they liked it so much. My dolls and I would have tea parties under the trees and dined with many different kinds of leaves and flowers!

[…] your brain cant work well because your gut flora has been stolen by your diet. Now think back to Brain Gut 8, and why I made the comment to MJ, that she maybe showing signs of brain damage. See this is no […]

[…] your brain cant work well because your gut flora has been stolen by your diet. Now think back to Brain Gut 8, and why I made the comment to MJ, that she maybe showing signs of brain damage. See this is no […]

http://www.bodybio.com/BodyBio/docs/BodyBioBulletin-4to1Oil.pdf
(Harbige) Epidemiological, biochemical, animal model and clinical
trial data described in this overview strongly suggest that polyunsaturated fatty acids,
particularly n-6 fatty acids, have a role in the
pathogenesis and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS);

———————————
Case #4 – MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Kara developed the ﬁ rst symptoms of MS while she
was a teenager. MS attacks followed for ten years
until she was conﬁ ned to a wheelchair before her
40th birthday. Kara had extreme fatigue, depression,
brain fog, blurred vision, muscle cramping, swollen
ankles, inability to walk, limited use of her hands, and
heat intolerance. Kara was low in all the essential fatty
acids – both omega 6 and omega 3. Her base fatty acids
Linoleic (omega 6) and Alpha Linolenic Acid (Omega 3)
were dramatically low. Linoleic was –115% and Alpha
Linolenic was –51%. Kara was started on balanced oil
in a 4:1 ratio of four parts Linoleic to one part Alpha
Linolenic, at 2 tablespoons 3x daily, along with an
array of nutritional supplements. She received IV lipid
therapy for ﬁ ve days, then returned home
to continue oral therapy. Within three
weeks Kara had less muscle cramping
and fatigue, and was able to walk up the
stairs holding onto the railing.
———————————————-
74. Harbige LS, Sharief MK. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in the pathogenesis and treatment
of multiple sclerosis. Br J Nutr. 2007 Oct;98 Suppl 1:S46-53.
———————————————
Red Blood Cell Fatty Acid test from Kennedy Krieger Laboratory
888-320-8338http://www.musclechatroom.com/forum/showthread.php?20061-Dr.-Patricia-Kane&p=171942#post171942

http://www.bodybio.com/BodyBio/docs/BodyBioBulletin-4to1Oil.pdf
(Harbige) Epidemiological, biochemical, animal model and clinical
trial data described in this overview strongly suggest that polyunsaturated fatty acids,
particularly n-6 fatty acids, have a role in the
pathogenesis and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS);

———————————
Case #4 – MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Kara developed the ﬁ rst symptoms of MS while she
was a teenager. MS attacks followed for ten years
until she was conﬁ ned to a wheelchair before her
40th birthday. Kara had extreme fatigue, depression,
brain fog, blurred vision, muscle cramping, swollen
ankles, inability to walk, limited use of her hands, and
heat intolerance. Kara was low in all the essential fatty
acids – both omega 6 and omega 3. Her base fatty acids
Linoleic (omega 6) and Alpha Linolenic Acid (Omega 3)
were dramatically low. Linoleic was –115% and Alpha
Linolenic was –51%. Kara was started on balanced oil
in a 4:1 ratio of four parts Linoleic to one part Alpha
Linolenic, at 2 tablespoons 3x daily, along with an
array of nutritional supplements. She received IV lipid
therapy for ﬁ ve days, then returned home
to continue oral therapy. Within three
weeks Kara had less muscle cramping
and fatigue, and was able to walk up the
stairs holding onto the railing.
———————————————-
74. Harbige LS, Sharief MK. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in the pathogenesis and treatment
of multiple sclerosis. Br J Nutr. 2007 Oct;98 Suppl 1:S46-53.
———————————————
Red Blood Cell Fatty Acid test from Kennedy Krieger Laboratory
888-320-8338http://www.musclechatroom.com/forum/showthread.php?20061-Dr.-Patricia-Kane&p=171942#post171942

[…] easier. They also the depth of the experience of orgasm is back to when they were young. In MJ’s guest blog, this discussion caught her totally by surprise. I told her and Danielle that a good orgasm is […]

[…] easier. They also the depth of the experience of orgasm is back to when they were young. In MJ’s guest blog, this discussion caught her totally by surprise. I told her and Danielle that a good orgasm is […]

About Dr. Kruse

Dr. Jack Kruse is a respected neurosurgeon and CEO of Optimized Life, a health and wellness company dedicated to helping patients avoid the healthcare burdens we typically encounter as we age. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Congress of Neurologic Surgeons, and Age Management Medicine Group.